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Now We Shall See: Lorenzo Feels Healthy, Is Coming Off A Win, and Gets The Beloved Seamless Gearbox For Misano

Rookie Marc Marquez (Honda) is the star of this season, no doubt, and the odds on favorite for the title with only 6 races remaining and a 30 point lead over teammate Dani Pedrosa. But defending champ Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha – down 39 points to Marquez) feels fully fit after struggling with a shoulder healing from two recent surgeries, and has momentum after a win in the last round at Silverstone. More importantly, Lorenzo and teammate Valentino Rossi will race at Misano for the first time with Yamaha’s version of a seamless gearbox … something already enjoyed by the Honda and Ducati factory riders.

Since the seamless gearbox engages the next gear before the shift, drive is continuous. Although you can experience something similar in a production automobile these days from a dual clutch transmission (DCT), not to mention some production Honda motorcycles, such as the CTX700 DCTs are illegal in MotoGP racing. This has required a great investment by Yamaha to come up with a design that does not violate this rule.

What’s the big deal? Lorenzo and Rossi loved the transmission when they tested it for the first time a couple of months ago, and are dying to race with it. There are several advantages. The fundamental advantage is that the continuous drive during upshifts leaves the chassis “calm” without the sudden surge of power normally associated with a gear change. This means the rider can ride more aggressively while remaining in control, and even experience less fatigue over the course of a race. Lap times may improve slightly, but the main advantage probably relates to tire life … the rear tire may last a few laps longer before it “goes off” near the end of a race, meaning the rider maintains more consistent traction and control for a longer period of time.

This weekend’s race in Misano represents a chance for Yamaha to step up, and possibly set the tone for the remainder of the series. Both Lorenzo and Rossi love Misano and have had excellent results there. Rossi considers it his home track.

It’s Rossi who has placed third so far in Free Practice 2 with the seamless transmission. He likes it and says it allows him to concentrate more on his racing line rather than worry that upshifts will take away from his concentration coming off the apex.

For Lorenzo or even Pedrosa to have a shot, they need Marquez to dnf in at least one of the next few remaining races.
When Lorenzo had shoulder issues and couldn’t race it really out Marquez in position to win the title (that and his exceptional skills).
Too bad this happened to Lorenzo because we would really have a neck and neck title chase going on which would make the season even more exciting.
Stay tuned though as you never know what will happen in GP racing….

After watching 10 minutes of youtoob, I am ready to pronounce my verdict on the seamless shifter. To me, there is no reduction in the step of torque pulse between gears. The magic is in a special dog that allows direct change from one gear to the next. In a conventional trans, you occasionally get the situation where the dog has to wait 120 degrees to engage the gear.

I’m glad to hear he’s stronger, the bikes are getting equal(er). Too bad it’s still a 2 brand race, but that’s all we get to hear about. I’d sure like to hear about the AMA Superbike, Outdoor MX. I’ve not and will not upgrade my cable package to get these other series.

It’s an important rule. The ability of Honda and Yamaha to outspend everyone else nearly killed motoGP for good. The need more of that kind of thing if they ever hope to revive it to the point where more sponsors want back in.

wouldn’t be so bad if it both jay and ross didn’t have their #4 engines yanked prematurely. all teams (well ‘cept Suzuki) have been able to make a full season. however comma (everything after but), all the confidence the yamaha engineers had back in june about being able to finish the season with 5 engines (1 less than what Honda and Ducati have at their disposal) was based on the assumption that nothing about prior year’s force/load data was going to change…? unfortunately, the gearbox has been brought forward at the behest of the riders, not the boffins. OOOPS.

I assure you, you will never want to watch another race any other way.

Interviews, all of practice in each session, qualifying, and the race LIVE as they occur, plus you can watch them as many times as you like. On bike views (for the whole race). You get to select different view formats.

Past historical races, rider/tuner interviews, pre-race conferences, testing, podium coverage and after race interviews. Off season coverage;all of this is part of the package.

It can seem a bit pricey for a first time purchase but after 3 seasons now, I find it a bargain.

Believe in giving credit where it is due Norm. Some of your conspiracy theories about the Spanish drive me crazy, but you were absoluetly spot on with your assessment of the advantage this transmission gave to the Hondas.

re: “you were absoluetly spot on with your assessment of the advantage this transmission gave to the Hondas. ”

Do you think? I didn’t really see the ‘box as making much of a difference for Honda. Aside from Jorge’s crash, he seemed to be on equal footing everywhere the Yamaha was expected to be prior to the gearbox release.

Well both Yamaha riders praised the trans once they got it, for being easier on the rider. It might not have made Lorenzo any appreciably. faster ( by their estimate 1/10 to 2/10 per lap), but it made his job of going fast easier. An advantage held previously only by factory Honda riders.